Railroad-signal.



I Nb. 718,385. PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

0. HT REMINGTON. RAILROAD SIGNAL.

I 3 m ri 1% 5-573 N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: v m/ v- TOR (IO/92W CHI-19721172595022 BY I 76 g f 77'OHNEY6.

- wgf UNTTE STATES i ATENT GFFICE.

CHARLES H. REMINGTON, OF ROSWELL, TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

RAILROAD-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,385, dated January 13, 1903.

7 Application filed June '7, 1902. Serial No. 110,681. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern: 7 Be it known that LOnAnLns H. REMINGTON,

residing at Roswell, in the county of Ohaves and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates more particularly to improvements in the railroad-signal mechanism disclosed in myPatentNo. 699,488, dated March 5, 1901; and it has for its object to provide a simple, easily-constructed, and pos-itivelyoperating means for effecting a proper operation of the signal-controlling pull rod, cable, or other flexible connection, and it can be readily adapted for use on embankments, trestles, and culverts without materially changing the generic arrangement of the several parts.

In its general nature my present invention comprehends a novel means for eifecting a pull strain on the signahcontrolling cable or rod in case of the culvert, trestle, or bridge being damaged by fire, washout, or other causes to such extent as to impair the safety thereof; and in its more subordinate features my present invention consists in certain details of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will hereinafter be fully explained, and specifically pointed out in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a culvert 0r embankment with my improved signal and signal-operating means cooperatively connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bell-crank connections for joining the pull-rod with the signaloperating crankshaft. ing one form of the signal devices, operable by the pull strain on the cable or rod connection. Fig. 4is aview of a modified form of my present invention. Fig. 5 is a view of a further modification thereof, hereinafter fully explained.

In the practical construction, my improvements comprise a weight, preferably in the nature of a heavy stone, buried in the dump or fill of a culvert, or in an embankment adjacent a trestle, and in such manner relatively to the embankment or dump as to provide for a convenient attachment thereto, of a supplemental cable or strain member, con- Fig. 3 is a vertical section, illustrate nect-ible with the main cable or signal pull member, in such manner that the disarrangement of the culvert, dump, trestle, embankment, or in case the bridge or trestle burns or becomes otherwise disabled, toimpair the danger thereof.

In the simplest form of my invention, as

shown in Fig. 1, the weight A is embedded in a dump or fill B, upon which is located the trackway, as shown, and connected with the stoneis a strong wire or cable O,Which extends up through the fill B and joins with the main or pull cable D, disposed under the cross-ties E and within the housing F, usually an ordinary gas-pi'pe tubing, which at a point over the stone A is open or separated, as indicated at f, to provide for conveniently connecting the supplemental cable 0 with the main pullcable D, the latter being joined with the signal in a manner best shown in Fig. 2, by reference to which it will be noticed the cable D passes over a guide-pulley Gand connects with the bell-crank lever H, disposed horizontally upon the cross-ties and having its end h joined by a flexible connection 'i with the crank I of the rock-shaft I journaled transversely of the track-bed, extended. to one side thereof, and connected with the signal mechanism S, which" may be of any suitable construction, but on the score of economy and simplicity of operation is preferably constructed in the manner shown in detail in Fig. 3. i

The signal mechanism S comprises a casing s, in which is held a vertically-disposed member 5 which carries at its upperend a plate 3 which acts as a cover or top for the casing when the signal is closed down. In the signal mechanism shown a spring or equivalent means is employed for normally forcing the member s to its uppermost or signaling position when the switch mechanism is released.

At its upper end the member s carries a reflector-signal s of any approved construction and the said member s alsoincludesashank 5 which cooperates with a trigger or locking device consisting of an inverted-V-shaped body T, provided with a concaved shoulder upon its under side, which acts as a cap or fastener for locking the signal toits down or closed position.

6 designates a disk or wheel mounted upon the shank .9 which is held to revolve and engage with the V-shaped trigger T. In operation the wheel 6 strikes the V-shaped trigger, passes by its side, and rolls under the concaved bottom of the trigger to form a stop or look mechanism.

7 designates a stiff spring attached to the shank or stem, which has for its purpose to take up all the loose slack on the pull or operating wire. By reason of the peculiar connection of the signal devices and the locking means therefor, as described, should the bridge or trestle burn up or a part thereof burn sufficient to heat the operating-Wire the tension of the two opposing springs in each signal-box will serve to stretch the operatingwire sufficient to operate the trigger within the signal-box and actuate the signal, and should the bridge be entirely destroyed the signal will be actuated by the springs inside the signal-casing the same as though the bridge had been carried away or thrown out of proper safe condition by water or other causes.

Adjacent the signal-casing is located a vertical guide-rod E, rota-t-ably mounted in brackets e e, projected laterally from the signalcasing, and the said guide-rod has a spiral wing 6 with which connects a laterally-extending arm 6 connected with the verticallymovable signal-head and provided with a worm orspiralgroove in its aperture, through which the guide E passes and which cooperates with the spiral winge of the said guide E.

F designates a semaphore mounted on the top of the guide E, ofanyapproved construction, and is preferably provided with two opposite red glasses or signal-faces and two opposite white glasses, the latter being arranged to be moved into position and to show the signal to safety when the signal devices are closed and are at a safety position, and the red glasses are positioned to show when the main signal mechanism is released and elevated to a danger position, it being understood that rotary motion is imparted to the rod E to effect the movements of the semaphore F stated through the medium of the spiral wing e and the spiral groove in the member 6.

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a slightly-modified form of my invention, in which the same is especially arranged for use on a trackway mounted on piles. In this form of my invention the pull member or cable for actuating the signal mechanism is mounted in suitable guides upon the cross beams B, mounted upon the piles P. In this latter form C designates a weighted lever inclined downward relatively to the horizontal plane of the beams B and is made fast at its lower end to one of the piles, and the said lever C is supported at a point between its lower and upper ends in a bracket A and its upper end is grooved to engage the pull member or cable that actuates the signal mechanism. In this construction it will be apparent that should the pile structure upon which the trackway is mounted be partly washed away or burned out, so that the end carrying the lower portion of the lever O sags, the said lever will by reason of its fulcrum in the bracket A be swung up in the direction indicated by dotted lines in Fig. at and effect a strain upon the pull-rod sufficient to cause it to actuate the signal mechanism.

In Fig. 4 is shown a further modification of my invention, in which a high trestle-work is shown, upon which the trackway is mounted. In this construction the pull member or actuating-cable is mounted upon the cross-ties E, and with said member is connected two divergingly-arranged cables A A, that pass down upon the trestle through suitable guides A at the bottom thereof, from whence they pass off in the horizontal plane with the bottom of the trestle and connect with the weights or anchors G, as shown. By arranging supplemental pull devices for actuating or effecting a strain on the signal-actuating member in the manner last described it is manifest that should the trestle sink at one side by reason of a washout or the said trestle be otherwise thrown out of plumb the strain will be imparted to the supplemental wires A and the pull strain thereof transmitted to the main actuating-cable or signaloperating member.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that the advantages of my invention and the manner of its operation will be readily understood. The construction of the same, it will be noticed, is such as to provide for a reliable and durable means for actuating a signal to indicate when a bridge, culvert, trestle, or other similar track-supporting means is disarranged or rendered unsafe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A signal-actuating means, comprising in combination a spring-set vertically-shiftable signal, a rotary signal and connections join ing the two signals, whereby the movement of the vertically-shiftable signal will set the rotatable signal, a detent mechanism for locking the set signal to its closed position, a pull member for the said signal, a track-support, a guide thereon extending lengthwise thereof, a pull member movable within the guide, an actuating means for releasing the detent for the spring'set signal, said actuating means including a flexible pull member, and a gravity-operated means normally supported by the track-support, connected with the pull member, and adapted when disabled to effect a strain on the said member, for the purposes described.

CHARLES H. REMINGTON.

Vitnesses:

XV. H. GODAIB, E. W. MARABLE. 

